#MLBVideos: FEAR THE REAPER! Mason Miller announces he is coming to the 2026 World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸

FEAR THE REAPER! Mason Miller announces he is coming to the 2026 World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸

We got breaking news. Do we go to social media for this? And we got the Padres’s logo up in the middle of the screen for this reason. Here we go. Breaking news. >> We told you Team USA’s pitching staff got better with the additions that we documented about an hour ago. How about this? Mason Miller’s thrown his hat in the ring. >> Wow. >> The big right-hander is going to pitch for Dro on Team USA. >> Flamethrower. >> And how about this? We actually got him in the car waiting to visit with us. Mason, good morning, man. Congrats on this decision. This is fun. >> Morning, guys. Appreciate it. Happy to get on here with you. >> Where are you headed? You’re in route somewhere. >> I just finished up at the gym. Got to put it put in the work this morning. East Coast time. So, put in that three hours and ready to go now. >> Team USA Mason. That’s awesome. So, uh, tell me about the call from Dro. >> Yeah, we tal talked a couple weeks ago about the interest and obviously getting things ironed out with the pods, too. But, uh, obviously a no-brainer for me. something I’m super excited to do. Uh, honor to represent the country and playing a really cool event that, you know, a lot of passion comes around and, you know, the fans have really enjoyed in the past. >> You may break some speed records in that amped up in that WBC, man. When was the first time you threw a ball 100 miles an hour that you can remember? >> How old were you? >> Uh, I would say the first time was after after the draft. That was the first time I got to see it in real time. We didn’t we didn’t have their their radar gun always popping around at uh Gardenner Webb in Wesburg. So I I count that after the draft little fall instructs. >> Hey, let’s talk a little bit about this decision for you to pitch in the World Baseball Classic. Um because you know, we hear this constant speculation about your role. Uh I I want to hear it from you. Like uh do you like being that ninth inning guy? Do you want to eventually get to being a a major league starter? What what’s perfect for you? Hey, I think I’m having a lot of success you doing what I’ve been doing these last couple years. And you know, the reason that we ended up making the switch a couple years ago was for health reasons. And you know, outside of one one blip and 24, uh, I’ve been able to do that and have a lot of success doing the uh the high leverage late inning role. So, you know, it kind of doesn’t make any sense to me to go away from that right now. Um, and I feel really good about where our bullpen is and being part of that group uh that I think is going to be one of the best in the league again. No, that that makes a lot of sense. I I want to ask you because I touched on you throwing a 100. You’ve hit higher numbers than that and you were just like fast ball. Here it is. I dare you to hit me. But you added in a lot of of other pitches. You started going to second and third pitches on on your rotation. So what are you uh when did you decide to go more slider and m mix in that a lot more than you did last couple seasons? Yeah, that fast ball played extremely well in 24 and I kind of was coming onto the scene and uh guys were kind of figuring out who I was and what my plan of attack was going to be and and things kind of shifted as they do and so you know I had to adjust back to to the adjustments the hitters were making. Uh you know my sliders a great pitch as well. So just figuring out how I can couple those and you know attack hitters limit damage uh and put myself in the best position to succeed. Has there been an at bat where a guy took a big swing on you and you’re like, “Okay, here it is. I’m bringing heat every time at you, mono on mono.” >> I don’t know about that. I mean, I think that’s where I get in trouble. You know, I gave up that homer to Guriel and that that was kind of that moment where I I was like, I’m going to try and throw it by him and and he got me. But, um, you know, I always when I match up against Vlatty, I feel like I can hear his bat speed from the mound. I feel like I can hear the this the bat whooshing through the zone. So, um, yeah, it’s always a a mutual respect thing, you know, trying to trying to give guys different looks and not let them get too comfortable up there. Uh, I think that’s when you get in trouble is when you kind of let your, you know, you let your ego get in the way and say, I’m going to try and just, you know, throw this ball by somebody. You know, pitching pitching is an art. It’s not, you know, how fast or how hard can I I shove shove this ball in the zone, but um, you know, trying to trying to get delicate and and work the edges and expand. Um, you know, that’s kind of where my success has come from. >> I love that line. I hear Vlad Vlatty’s bat speed. I love that. We’re going to probably clip that off and put it on our social channels. Hey, I want to ask you about your new manager, Mason, because you’re now pitching for a reliever for the most part, Craig Stamon. I want to know about your relationship with Craig and um and what kind of conversations you’ve had with him since he’s been named Padres Skipper. >> Yeah, short short time in the organization for me, but got a chance to meet meet Craig and uh kind of get to know him a little bit in those two months. Uh definitely a guy that commands the respect of the room when he walks in, which you know, as it’s been touched on, it’s kind of unique for a relief pitcher, but I think that was the guy he was his whole career. Uh so I’m excited to to get some boots on the ground this spring and um be around those guys and see see what kind of priorities and things like that, you know, Stan wants to to instill in us. Um but, you know, I think it’s going to be good for the guys, too. Um kind of encourage that tight-knit group and and continue to build on the foundations that we have. Hey Mason, the biggest compliment you can get is everybody wants you. And clearly that’s been the story with you since you hit the big leagues. You’ve been traded once before. Your name comes up all the time. I wonder how do you deal with hearing your name in trade rumors constantly. >> I mean, at the end of the day, I said the same thing when I was with the A’s. Um, you know, I don’t have any control over it, so I try not to give it as much as much thought, but you know, obviously that creeps in sometimes, too. Uh, I feel really good about about the team that we’ve we’ve built in there in San Diego. And, you know, I’m excited to get there, uh, this spring. And and that’s how I’m preparing and planning until until I get told otherwise if I do. But, uh, that’s kind of the only thing you can do as a player. You know, you’re you’re set on one road uh, until somebody tells you you’re going a different way and and you just make those adjustments when they come up. >> Is that a misprint? 077. Erra. >> Feels like it should be, but it’s not. >> 077. >> Not a misprint. >> Holy. Hey, I want to ask you this because uh Mason, you’re you’re a Yinsz or you’re a Pittsburgh guy and we were just talking about the Steelers. That’s a whole another conversation. But if you had your lunch choice right now, a fish taco in San Diego or a Permani Brother sandwich in the Steel City? >> Hey, if it’s October and I I’m kicking back and I don’t have to work out at all, I’m going to perman each time. But, you know, I don’t work out. That Perman sandwich is going to sit a little heavy. Fresh fish in San Diego is on another level. I I love that. >> Hey, in the in the time that we’ve been visiting with you, apparently this this just hit the social media channels that TKO has thrown his hat into the ring and he’s going to pitch on Team USA as well. This is quite a staff that’s being assembled before our very eyes. Give me your reaction to this news. >> The big the big guns are coming out. Uh I’m excited. I’m I’m glad Scoop decided to do it. Um you know, obviously for a starting pitcher, it’s definitely more of a commitment I think is the preparation and where you need to be. Um, you know, for a reliever, I think it’s a little bit easier to get behind it and say, “I can still be on my my kind of program.” But, you know, a guy like that back toback Sai Young’s, um, you know, that’s that’s the guy that you want, you know, representing your country. So, >> no, this is this is like a glorified all-star game, which it is, or all-star team. And usually all-star game, you may find out what’s your pitch grip, what do you try to do, certain situations, how you face a certain guy. What would you want to draw away at the end of this run with all these great pitchers? Is there anything you would want to ask guys along the way? And I’m sure they’ll be asking you questions as well. Is there anything you’re curious about? >> Yeah, it’s always talking shop, man. Always talking shop. But I think just getting inside guys minds and seeing how they think and how they want to attack guys is my favorite thing to do. Um, you know, just just that mental mental side of things. You know, the the gap between talent has gotten so thin. You know, everybody’s got good stuff. It’s it’s about your execution, about how you’re thinking through stuff, how you think in critical situations. So, you know, these are the best of the best, man. Um, you know, hitters included. So, if the hitters let me get in there a little bit, I I’ll try to get in their minds a little, too. But we’ll see. >> How who who do you think you would resemble? Is it Paul Ski probably closest to your style? I think I’m looking at body type of delivery. I don’t know. Who Who would you think is more similar to you? I mean, I’ll take I’ll take the skins comp for sure. You know, everybody’s different, man. It’s part of what makes us all unique, y’all special. Um, you know, I have nothing but respect coming from starting uh coming up through the the minor leagues, guys that are able to do that for six, seven innings, 180, 200 innings a year. Um, but yeah, you know, I found success in my role. So, you know, try to be that oneonone guy, you know, don’t try to be like anybody else. Just be yourself. >> Now, what’s wrong with your Steelers, man? What’s going on there? I mean, last I check, we’re at first place, right? >> Yeah, nothing’s wrong. That must just be me. >> Who cares if Aaron Rogers throws it eight eight yards down the field every time? That That’s good enough to win, man. With that squad around the smile out of him. >> Yeah. Hey, Mason, we appreciate the visit today, man. We’ll let you get on your way. >> Go ahead, Mason. You were going to say something else. Go ahead. >> It’s okay. It’s all right. We Well, I’ll sit on I’ll sit on my first place Steelers and and I’ll enjoy it right now. Maybe. >> Way to go, man. >> Maybe things will turn around a little bit in the playoffs. We’ll see. >> Congrats on this decision. Uh, glad to have you on Team USA, of course, and we’ll be thrilled to watch you during the World Baseball Classic. Enjoy the rest of your holiday season, man. Thanks for the time with us. >> You as well. Thanks, guys. >> Appreciate it, man.

Flamethrowing closer Mason Miller announces on ​@MLBNetwork that he will compete in the 2026 @worldbaseballclassic!

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